Adjustable tamperproof closure



Jan' 3, 1967 R. L. PETERsoN ADJUSTABLE TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE Filed Oct.15, 1965 INVENTOFK RICHARD L. PETERSON United States Patent O f3,295,712 ADJUSTABLE TAMPERPROF CLSURE Richard L. Peterson, Greenville,Miss., assignor to Moeller Mfg. Co., line., Greenville, Miss., acorporntion of Mississippi Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. Na. 496,437 4Claims. (Cl. 220-245) This invention appertains to expansible stoppersand more particularly to a new and improved stopper having a positivelocking and safety feature to provide a novel, adjustable, tamperproofclosure.

Expansible type bottle stoppers are well known in the art and are soldwidely on the open market and the more efiicient types include acompressible resilient body which fits into the neck of the bottleaperture or the like. This body is carried between two plates and isprovided with a longitudinally extending axial bore fitted into which isa stem which is usually connected to the bottom plate to hold the samein position. The upper end of this stem has attached thereto a camlever, or is screw threaded so as to compress the body between theplates and firmly grip the inside of the aperture or bottle neck. Thestem may or may not be provided with an initial adjustment.

In any event, the structures of these stoppers are well known and shownand described in the following patents, all issued to Axel Moeller, andowned by Moeller Mfg. Co., Inc., of Greenville, Mississippi.

2,292,149, Aug. 4, 1942 2,315,538, Apr. 6, 1943 2,347,835, May 2, 19442,685,380, Sept. 3, 1954 2,729,353, Ian. 3, 1956 2,773,6l9, Dec. 11,1956 2,822,103, Feb. 4, 1958 2,822,108, Feb. 4, 1958 The presentinvention can be well utilized with any of the structures disclosed inthe above patents. In fact, it is standard for manufacturing companies,in order to be assured that the stopper-s will hold and seal properlyand not blow, etc., to periodically test a number of stoppers in aspecially designed testing apparatus. In testing these stoppers, theyare placed in provided apertures, closed and sealed land then subjectedto the high testing pressures. Furthermore, there are actual commercialapplications for expandable stoppers, wherein these stoppers areconstantly subjected to relatively high pressures compared to thepressures generated by soda bottles and the like. For example, in usesuch as tank openings, drain outlets, pressure vessels, etc. Obviously,when these stoppers are under considerable pressure any accidentalrelease or decompression of the compressible body would result in thestopper blowing or shooting off from the aperture with great force. Thisforce could infiict serious or even fatal injury to a person and hascaused considerable property damage.

It is, therefore, desirable particularly when testing to provide somemeans whereby the accidental release by flipping a lever or turning theadjustment screw will be prevented, and as also suggested there is aneed for a tamperproof stopper capable of withstanding high pressures.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide anew and improved stopper for relatively high pressure use having apositive tamperproof lock and safety means.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a novellock and safety means for expansi'ble stoppers which can be utilizedwith any type of stem operated flexible stopper.

Patented dan. 3, 1967 ICC Still another object of t-he present inventionis to provide a positive lock and safety means associated with theOperating stems of expansible stoppers and which may be used either witha screw operated stem or a cam lever type, whereby the locking andsafety means is guarded by the Operating means of the stopper.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved high pressure stopper, wherein means is provided to prevent theloss of the stem and/ or rnbber body through larger openings.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide a new andimproved stopper for high compression use that may be made in differentsizes and which is readily adaptable for a variety of uses.

A salient feature of the present invention resides in providing a novellocking and safety means in the nature of a U-shaped looking plate tofit around the Operating stem of the stopper which is much simpler andeasier to operate than lock bolts, cotter pins, complicated keyways andthe like, and thus provides a stopper which is virtually tarnperproof,yet can be conveniently operated by properly trained and equippedpersonnel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple,practical and reliable construction that is economical to manufacture,easy to assernble and positive in its operation.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a Vertical section taken through one form of my improvedstopper made in accordance with the present invention, and illustratingthe same in its locked and Safety position within an aperture;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 Ofthe drawings, looking in the direction of the arrows and clearlyil-lustrating the novel looking plate;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the stopper shown inFIGURE l of the drawings but with the handle unit removed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly in section of amodified means for Operating and compressing the body;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the novel looking plate and FIGURE 6is a fragmentary end elevational view of the lever Operating means shownin FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the view being taken in the direction ofthe arrow of FIGURE .4.

A clearer understanding of the construction and method of operation ofthis invention may be had by referring to the drawings which form a partof the present specification, and wherein like reference charactersdesignate the same or similar parts throughout the several Views, andthe letter C generally indicates one type of the improved closure orstopper. Closure or stopper C includes broadly a compressible body 10having an axial longitudinal bore 11 therethrough, a lower plate 12, atop pressure plate 13 through which the stem 14 extends and with whichthe Operating handle unit 15 is associated.

The stopper C is to be associated with an opening or aperture 16 whichmay be part of any type of tank opening, pressure vessel, drain opening,testing machine etc., and the compressible body 10 is preferably made ofa resilient material and has formed on the outer periphery thereof aseries of spaced ribs 17 providing spaced annular areas 18. The axialbore formed through the body 10 is preferably of a greater circumferencethan the circumference of the stem 14 but the lower portion of the bodyhas an opening of the same or slightly greater Circurnference than thatof the stem, and this is indioated by the numeral 19. The upper portionof the compressible body 10 may be provided with an annular fiange 20which terminates well beyond the outer ribs 17 and is formed so as torest on the upper surface of the article to W-hich it is to beassociated to prevent the body 10 from dropping through the aperture oropening. Resting on top of the flange 20 is the top pressure plate 13and the axial center of this plate is provided with an opening of aslightly greater circumference than the circumference of the stem sothat the stem may be slidably received therethrough. The lower end ofthe stem projects through opening 19 and is provided with an end fiange21 of a larger circumference than the opening in the bottom plate 12 andthus the bottom plate 12 is retained in position by means of the stem14. In order to prevent the stem 14 from dropping through the axial borewhen it is not associated with its handle unit or when the looking plate22 is not in position, the lower end of the stem adjacent member 21 isprovided with a number of crimps 23 the lower Shoulders of which rest onan internal washer 24 and this washer rests on the upper surface forlower portion 25 of the rubber body 10.

Thus it can be seen that the stem is firmly held to the rubber body andwill not drop through the opening even when the handle unit and lookingplate are removed. The upper end of the stem projects well above thepressure plate 13 and is provided with a t-hreaded portion 26, as shown.Immediately below the threaded portion, the stem is provided with aseries of equally spaced annular grooves 27 to provide a series ofequally spaced ribs 28. When it is desired to seal or close off anopening or aperture, such as 16, it is merely necessary to insert therubber body into the opening and then compress the body between theplate 12 and pressure plate 13. To accornplish this, I provide thehandle unit 15 and this unit includes a cylindrical body provided with alongitudinally extending axial bore 29 which is internally threaded tomate with the threaded portion 26 of the stem. The lower portion of thehandle unit is provided with a pair of spaced arcuate shaped dependingfeet 30 and these feet are spaced so that access can be had to the stemportion between the pressure plate 13 and the lower wall 31 of thecylindrical body` Positioned above the feet 30 are the outwardlyextending handles 32 and 33 respectively.

From the description so far, it can be seen that rotation of the handleunit 15 by means of the handles 32 and 33 in one direction will draw thestem upwardly and the resilient body will be compressed between thelower plate 12 and pressure plate 13 to firmly seal the opening 16. Inthis manner the closure or stopper is firmly held in place in theaperture and seals the same entirely and in fact areas 18 aid in makinga better seal by creating a slight vacuum with the walls of theaperture. When the closure is being tested it is often subjected torelatively high pressures such as thirty to fifty pounds per squareinch, and it can be seen therefore that if handles 32, 33 wereaccidentally rotated so as to release the resilient body 10, the stopperwould blow or shoot from the aperture 16 forcibly, and with such forcethat serious injury and damage could be inflicted. To prevent thisaccidental release of the compression of the body 10 by rotating handles32 or 33, a novel looking and Safety means is provided and -this meansis in the shape of a flat looking plate 22. Preferably, the lookingplate is U-shaped or horseshoe shaped, and is of a thickness to besnugly received in any one of the grooves 27 and thus, is of a size andconfiguration to be snugly received about the reduced portions andbetween the ribs 28. Accidental rotation of the handle unit in onedirection would stop movement of the stem and could not release thecompression on the body 10.

In FIGURE 2 the exact position of the looking plate can be seen and thetwo legs 40 and 41 cooperate with the rounded bight portion 42 to holdthe stem firmly in position. In actual use, it would be advisable torotate handle unit 15 so that the depending legs 30 thereof are in thedotted line position, and this would provide looking means so that thelooking plate could not be tampered with or accidentally pushed out ofthe grooves. Also it is advisible to form the looking plate 22 of such asize that it will be received entirely within the inner arcuateperipheral edge 44 of each depending leg 30 so that the handle could berotated without turning or eifecting the looking plate. It is alsopossible, if desired, to completely remove the handle unit 15, as shownin FIGURE 3 of the drawings, and it can be seen that looking plate willstill hold the stem in its proper operative position with bodycompressed and sealed against aperture or opening 16. i

As indioated the novel looking means can be associated with almost anytype of compressible bottle stopper or closure, and in FIGURES 4 and 6of the drawings, I have illustrated the| same being associated with thecam lever type of closure, such as shown and described more particularlyin Patent 2,315,538 and in accordance with this patent, if desired stem14' can have an initial adjustment and be made in two parts. In anyevent, for the purpose of illustration, closure C' is constructedidentically to that shown in FIGURES l and 3 of the drawings, exceptthat the upper threaded portion 26 is eliminated. In lieu thereof, theupper section 26' is smooth and provided with a slot 46 openingoutwardly and downwardly as shown. Otherwise, the stem is provided withthe ribs 28 and spaced grooves 27 and is also provided with the novellooking piece 22. The cam lever 47 is preferably stamped from sheetmetal to include an open top portion 48, parallel side cam walls 49 andthe right angularly extending fingerpiece 50. Between the walls 49 Iprovide a pivot pin 51 and this pin is of a size and oonfiguration to bereceived within the slot 46. Thus when the stopper C' is placed withinan aperture or opening the cam lever is in a position wherein thesurface 52 rotates on the pressure plate 13' and then the lever isrotated to draw the stem upward and compress the body 10'. Furtherdownward motion as explained in the aforementioned patent, slightlyreleases the compression and creates a vacuum in the areas 18 which aidsin sealing the opening. Thus, it can be seen that I may provide astopper constructed in accordance with the above, in different size forvarious and different uses, and that the same may be readily tested inmachines without the danger of anyone accidentally causing thedecompression of the' bodies 10 or 10' with the result that the stoppermight blow from the aperture with great force.

In FIGURE 4 it should be again noted that the looking and safety plate22 is received between the parallel walls 49 and thus cannot be removedunless it is the eXact intention to do so, and accidental removal lisheld to a minimum.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodime'nts of thisinvention, it will be understood that these are merely for the purposeof illustration and description, and that various other forms may bedevised and that changes may be made in the proportions and minordetails of construction, without departing from the spirit of theinvention or scope of the appended claims.

What is olaimed as new is:

1. A safe'ty and looking means for eX-pansible stoppers of the typehaving an elongated compressible body, a stem slidably received throughthe axial center of said body and means for actuating said stem tocompress said body longitudinally, said safety and looking meansincluding spaced ribs on said stem intermediate its ends defining spacedgrooves certain of said grooves adapted to be aligned with the uppersurface of said body upon longitudinal movement of said stem, and aU-shaped flat locking plate of a size and configuration to be receivedin a respective aligned groove and under a respective rib.

2. In an expansible stopper for high pressure use, an elongatedcompressible body having an axial bore extending therethrough, means forcompressing the body longitudinally and expanding the' samecircumferentially including, a stem slidably received Within said axialbore, a portion of said stem extending above the upper end terminationof said body, means for actuating said stem to cornpress said body, andmeans for looking said stem in its operative position With the bodycompressed against movement and accidental release of said stemactuating means, including spaced annular ribs on said stem definingspaced grooves therebetween, said ribs and grooves being so positionedintermediate the ends of the stem so that certain of said grooves may bealigned with the upper surface of said body, and a flat U-shaped lookingplate of a size and configuration to be received in a respective alignedgroove and under a respective rib.

3. In an expansible stopper for high pressure use, an elongatedcompressible body having an axial bore extending therethrough, means forcompressing the body longitudinally and expanding the samecircumferentially including, a stem slidably received Within said aXialbore, a portion of said stem extending above the upper end terminationof said body, means for actuating said stem to compress said body, saidstem actuating means including, means for locking said stem in itsoperative position With the body compressed against movement andaccidental release of said stem actuating means, including spacedannular ribs on said stem defining spaced grooves therebetween, saidribs and grooves being so positioned intermediate the ends of the stemso that certain of said grooves may be aligned With the upper surface ofsaid body, and a flat U-shaped looking plate of a size and configurationto be received in a respective aligned groove and under a respectiverib, a threaded upper end on said stem, a rotating handle body having anaxial bore carrying mating threads therein, depending feet on saidhandle body engaging the upper end termination of said body, wherebyrotative movement of said handle body in one direction will move saidstem longitudinally to compress said body, said looking plate beingpositioned between said depending feet.

4. In an expansible stopper for high pressure use, an elongatedcompressible body having an axial bore extending therethrough, means forcompressing: the body longitudinally and expanding the samecircumferentially including, a stem slidably received within said axialbore, a portion of said stem extending above the upper end terminationof said body, means for actuating said stem to compress said body, saidstem actuating means including, means for looking said stem in itsoperative position With the body compressed against movement andaccidental release of said stem actuating means, including spacedannular ribs on said stem defining spaced grooves therebetween, saidribs and grooves being so positioned intermediate the ends of the stemso that certain of said grooves may be aligned With the upper surface ofsaid body, and a flat U-shaped locking plate of a size and configurationto be received in a respective aligned groove and un-der a respectiverib, a cam lever having spaced parallel walls forming said cam andadapted to ride on the upper surface of said body, said locking platebeing positioned in an aligned groove between said walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,479,862 8/1949Payne 215-53 2,822,103 2/1958 Moeller 215- 53 2,822,108 2/1958 Moeller215- 53 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examner.

JAMES B. MARBERT, Examner.

1. A SAFETY AND LOCKING MEANS FOR EXPANSIBLE STOPPERS OF THE TYPE HAVINGAN ELONGATED COMPRESSIBLE BODY, A STEM SLIDABLY RECEIVED THROUGH THEAXIAL CENTER OF SAID BODY AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID STEM TO COMPRESSSAID BODY LONGITUDINALLY, SAID SAFETY AND LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING SPACEDRIBS ON SAID STEM INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS DEFINING SPACED GROOVES CERTAINOF SAID GROOVES ADAPTED TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAIDBODY UPON LONGITU-